Thermionic valve



2 m, 31 m m? 1 0 Mi W Hm mwm m 0mm May 25 1926.

may replace the battery.

Patented May '25, 1926.

UNITED STATES HARRY. 0. HUGE, OI CHICAGO, ILLmOIS.

THEBKIONIG VALVE.

Application filed November 16, 1922. Serial-10o. 801,304.

My invention relates to wireless systems of electrical communication and has for one object the provision of a current rectifying device or thermionic valve which may be connected with lamp sockets of commercial hting systems, this device constituting a ug by which wireless receiving equipment may be connected with ordinary commercial lighting circuits in a manner to complete the wireless receiving systems. The current rectifying device is preferably in the form of an incandescent lamp to furnish light while also serving to completethe wireless receiving equipment. The current rectifying device.of my invention may form a art of the equipment disclosed in my co-pen ing application Serial No. 601,305, filed of even date herewith, although the invention is not to be limited to such a use. i

The invention has for another of its objects the provision of means whereby the plate, wing, or other current rectifying electrode, that is associated with the filament or other heating element of the rectifying device, may be connected with a'- selected side of a lighting circuit, it beingof advantage to associate suchelectrode more closely with the ungrounded side of a commercial, lighting circuit than with the grounded side thereof in accordance with the present development of the art.

In carrying out the first object of the invention a rheostat is mounted upon the cur-' rent rectifying lamp and has its resistance i n circuit with the lamp filament in order that the generator of the lighting system The resistance winding of the rheostat is preferably also a choke coil to enable it to eliminate the hum of the generator in a direct current system. The resistance changing lever of the rheostat is accessible for operation from the exterior of the lamp, being preferably pivoted on and desirably projecting into the lamp base wherein the resistance is contained and which base is hollow where the resistance and the inner end of the lever is located to permit of movement of the lever. In order to adapt the lamp to certain wireless receiving systems the base thereof is equipped with two binding posts. One of these binding posts is connected with the rectifying electrode that is adjacent the lamp filament. The other binding post is connected with the lamp conreference to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the preferred form of rectifying device, some of the circuit relationship of this device being diagrammatically illustrated; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the different The looped heating element 1 may also constitute a lighting element, being enclosed within a glass bulb 2 as in ordinary incandescent lamp practice. The base 3 of the lamp is preferably metallic and has one end assembled with one end of the lamp bulb, as illustrated. The lamp base carries two contacts 4 and 5 which are preferably in 'the form of prongs, the contact 4 being connected by the leading in wire 6- with one terminal of the filament 1 and the contact 5 being connected with the other terminal of the filament through the rheostat resistance 7 which is located between the latter contact and the filament and which is connected with the filament by means of another leadin in wire 8. The contacts 4 and 5 are carried upona disc 9 of insulation that is enclosed by the base 3 at its outer end. The contact 4 is insulated from the base 3 but contact 5 is electrically connected with this base through the intermediation of the conductor 10 which may be soldered to the base at one end and which may be lirml electrically and mechanicall assembled wi the contact 5 at its other en by means of a nut ll. This nut also serves to assemble the contact 5 with the disc 9. Another nut 12 serves likewise to assemble the contact 4 with said disc.

As will more fully hereinafter appear, the contacts 4 and 5 may be connectible with an incandescent lam to include the lamp ament in bridge of the lighting circuit. The lamp base 3 is hollow between the adjacent end of the lamp bulb and the disc to accommodate the rheostat resistance and the inner end of the resistance changing lever 13 which .is mounted upon the resistance carrier 14 and is brought into electrical connection with the metallic lamp base 3 by means of a metallic bracket 15 which is mechanically and electrically connected with the base 3 and with the pivoted lever 13 through the lever pivot 16. The core 17 for the resistance is surrounded by the wire thereof as is understood. This socket in a manner core'is made of iron if the rheostat resistance is also to be a choke coil.

The thermionic valve illustrated includes a so-called current rectifying wing or plate preferably in the form of a wire electrode 18 which passes through the base end of the lamp bulb into proximity to the lamp filament but in a manner to be spaced 21 art therefrom. As illustrated, this electro e is within the bulb but the invention is not to be thus limited. This electrode is here shown as taking part in rectifying the current, but it is not to be limited to this use. The outer end of the electrode is connected to a binding post 19 which is mounted upon but insulated from the lamp base 3. ThlS binding post has a binding screw 20 which may have clampin engagement with a circuit wire 21 passe through a hole in the binding post. Another binding post 22 is mounted upon and electrically connected with the lamp base 3 so as to be electrically united with the lamp contact 5 and with the rheostat which is also electrically united with this contact throu h the intermediation of the lam base 3, as as been described. The bi 'ng post 22 is provided with a binding screw 23 which may have clamping engagement with a circuit wire 24 assed through a hole in this binding st.' e two circuit wires 21 and 24 may e included in a flexible cord 25 which leads to the balance of suitable receiving ap aratus, such as that diagrammatically in 'cated at the lower ends of said wires, there being illustrated a telephone receiver 26 and an adjustable inductance 27 in series with the wires and also a condenser 28 in shunt of the receiver.

The electrode 18 is desirably more intimately associated with one leg of the filament 1 than with the other and means are provided whereb the leg of the filament with which the e ectrode.1s more intimately associated may be connected with the ungrounded side of the system. To this end the lamp structure is provided with a plug 29 that carries the lamp and whose lighting socket contact engagin contacts 30 and 31 are respectively formed with extensions 33 and 32 that are in the shape of sleeves into each of which either of the prongs 4 and 5 are insertable. The contact prong 4 upon the base of the lamp should be connected with the ungrounded side of the system. If the shell contact of the lamp socket receiving the plug 29 should ha pen to be connected with the ungrounded side of the system the lamp is inserted as illustrated, but if the butt contact of said socket is the one which is connected with the ungrounded side of the system then the position of the lamp should be reversed so as to bring the contact 4 into connection with the extension 33 of the contact 30 and the contact 5 in connection with the extension 32 of the contact 31.

While the contacts 4 and 5 are preferably carried by the lamp base, I do not wish to be limited to this arrangement.

While I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction shown as changes may readily be made without dearting from the spirit of my invention,

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following 1. A thermionic valve including a bulb containing a looped conductor inclusive of a filament and having terminal contacts connected. with said conductor, these contacts constituting the input terminals of the valve; and an electrode adjacent the looped conductor and closer to one leg thereof than the other.

2. A thermionic valve including a looped conductor inclusive of a heating element and having terminal contacts connected therewith, these contacts constituting the input terminals of the valve; and an electrode adjacent the looped conductor and closer to one leg thereof than the other.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this ninth day of November, A. D,

HARRY O. RUGH. 

